PIP: A study designed to compare the TCu 200 IUD with or without marker string was conducted at Clinique Marignan in Paris, France. Devices were randomly assigned to 100 women, of whom 84 were interval women ( or = 42 days since last pregnancy). 42 women received the TCu 200 with string and 42 without string. The 2 groups were similar with respect to sociodemographic characteristics and medical histories. The mean age for the women in the string group was 34.7 years; for the other group the mean age was 33.2 years. The mean number of livebirths was 1.7 for both groups. The majority of women in each group had used oral contraceptives (OCs) for 1 month prior to admission to this study. Complications/complaints at insertion time included 1 failed insertion in the group without strings and 2 cervical lacerations in the group with strings. Neither required treatment. Approximately 1/4 of the women in each group experienced some degree of pelvic pain during insertion. All of the women returned for at least 1 follow-up visit in the 12-month follow-up period. During this time, dysmenorrhea was the most common menstrual-related complaint, with intermenstrual bleeding, spotting, and pelvic pain reported for a similar number of women in each group. 10 women (23.8%) in the group without strings and 5 women (12.2%) in the group without strings were diagnosed with 1 or more lower genital tract inflammations/infections. Other events/complaints possibly related to infection included antibiotic usage, pelvic tenderness, purulent discharge, abnormal uterine bleeding, and urinary problems. No cases of PID were diagnosed in any of the 2 groups. 1 ectopic pregnancy occurred in the group without strings 9 months following insertion. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups insofar as termination and event rates were concerned. At the end of 12 months of follow-up the continuation rate was 83.1% for the string group and 92.2% for the group without strings. (author's modified)